Ndamukong Suh was the biggest defensive force in college football this season. He won every award possible for a defensive tackle and was even a Heisman Trophy Finalist. He became a household name after his extraordinary performance against Texas in the Big 12 Championship game. In that game, Suh managed to sack Colt McCoy 4.5 times and treat the Texas offensive line like they were a bunch of high schoolers. For these reasons, Suh is the #1 NFL prospect heading into April’s NFL draft. The St. Louis Rams have this year’s first overall pick and have a bunch of holes on their team that they need to fill. There is a hole at quarterback as Marc Bulger is coming off a season in which he spent time on the injured reserve due to a knee injury. Can they afford to pass on Ndamukong Suh, and draft a quarterback with the first overall pick? I don’t think so. Speed is the biggest difference between college and pro football. New quarterbacks struggle to adapt to smaller windows through which they can throw the ball and have difficulty making quick passes under pressure. I don’t see the speed of any offensive lineman giving Suh major problems. Suh should adapt quite well and be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Ndamukong Suh joined KFXX in Portland to talk about whether it seems like after the Big 12 Championship game that he became kind of a rock star, the notion that he cost his team the game because he was too good, whether he was surprised at how easy it was to take out Arizona, how he got to Nebraska, and who else was recruiting him.

Whether it seems like after the Big 12 Championship game that he became kind of a rock star:

“Yeah kind of.Everybody is coming up to me and finding me and saying that they loved the game that I played against Texas in the Big 12 Championship.In that game I wanted to get a championship ring.I hadn’t had one since I had been there last time I was up and had an opportunity to play for a Championship in 2006 when we got killed by Oklahoma.”

On the notion that he cost his team the game because he was too good:

“Yeah I mean if I would’ve held out a little bit longer I would have maybe allowed the clock to run out but it is an unfortunate the way things ended.It is what it is.We went ahead and took care of business against Arizona in the Holiday Bowl and stamped that we are a pretty good team to be reckoned with this year.”

Whether he was surprised at how easy it was to take out Arizona:

“Um yeah I was a little surprised.I thought that they would have definitely…In my opinion they had a pretty high-powered offense so I thought that they definitely had an opportunity to get closer to the end zone and obviously have to fight a little bit harder than we did.But really it was only one time that we were particularly scared in the game when they got down past the 50-yard line and put it down on our 20.It was a fun game though.Everybody in our defensive line and in our secondary and linebackers played an excellent game.It was closer to a perfect game.Obviously there are mistakes here and there and obviously they got some big runs here and there but for the most part we played a perfect game in my opinion.”

On the team playing as well as anyone the last three weeks of the year:

“Yeah I definitely agree with that and that is just due to our coaches and they kept continually pushing us throughout the season.That is what we want to do is week in and week out is to continue get better and learn from our mistakes from a win or a loss.Hopefully it is from a win and we want to continue to win and move forward from our mistakes that we can pick up from our previous games.”

On him not winning the Heisman but will be worth $40 million in a few months:

“Um I don’t know it is funny to even think about that but I understand that there is a lot of hard work going into that.I am ready to work.Obviously I have got to find a great agency to represent me and to continue to work hard on the field and off the field and just better myself.”

On how he goes about the process of choosing an agency:

“For me it is really just my family. They have been heading that up.Both my parents, my sister, and a couple of coaches that I have had close contact with throughout high school who really helped with my college decision process as well.They have really dealt with that throughout the season because I didn’t want to deal with that throughout the season.That was my least focus.I changed my number and lost myself into football and school and that is what I wanted to do.I had a chance to do that and my family and friends have taken care of that.Now I am immersing myself in the agents and learning.Obviously I read when I had free time from school and read up on people.But obviously this is now is the time to sit down and meet people and get a more personal feel from what they have in me and what they have to offer.”

On what his plan is to do with the millions of dollars that he is set to make:

“My plan is to take care of my parents’ debt that I have caused them.I mean I am sure that I have caused a good amount of debt to them and they definitely deserve it.I want to hopefully give my mom a chance when she wants to retire and live comfortably, same with my dad.Obviously I don’t know if you guys know but I have two baby sisters that are 2, 2 ½ almost now, and I want to pay for their college.”

30 Responses to “The St. Louis Rams Are Now on the Clock. . .”

Ndamukong has been incredible representative of Nebraska Football. I have watched Husker football for over 60 years and I don’t recall a player having the impact that he has. With the times that I have seen and heard him on TV in pre-game and post-game interviews he has always been humble and unassuming, as a parent, that must make his family proud. I wish him only the best at the next level. I will continue to look forward to watching and following his career. Thank you for a great ride while at Nebraska.

Thank you, Portland, for sending such a fine young man to our beloved Cornhusker team. Thank you to his coaches who saw this incredible talent from the soccer field forward. I have watched college football for 44 years, and watching him was something new for these old eyes.
Thank you to Mr/Mrs. Suh, for raising such a courteous, well spoken, and sportsmanlike son. I will wager that football will not be his greatest life’s achievement.

Nadamakong is everything that Nebraska football stands for, and a small agricultural midwestern state will always remember him as a native son. Thanks, again, for the wonderful memories.

Ndamukong,
As a former Nebraskan living in the Chicago area and with Nebraska tickets, my whole family has had a chance to see you, even my Switzerland living son who came back for a game. I normally wouldn’t pay a nickle to see a pro game even though I was a team mate of the great Gale Sayers, I would gladly go downtown Chicago or to St Louis to wave the my “N” flag at your game. Can’t wait to see more of you playing. You will always be a Nebraskan!
Good luck and God Bless
Jim

I can see it and hear it now… 15, 20, 30+ years after the playing years in both college and the pros is finished.
Ndamukong comes back to Nebraska for those special recognition events at the games.
Nebraskans DO remember their players remarkedly well…..
The pride Ndamukong and his family will certainly feel as he is announced over the loudspeaker—-and the crowd gives it up……..
SSSSUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
NS-Thanks in retrospect for choosing the ‘Huskers

As a lifelong Nebraska fan an a Portlander for many years, I am honored to have someone like Ndamukong Suh represent my team and the city of Portland. Not only were you the most dominant player in college football this season, but you showed everyone who saw you off the field what a genuine and humble person you are, which is something you and your whole family should be very proud of. Thank you for showing the country what Nebraska football is all about. We couldn’t have asked for a better ambassador.

Ndamukong, you along with the rest of the blackshirts make us Nebraskans feel very proud of our Cornhuskers once again. Mr Suh I wish you the best of luck with your long lived pro days. You will always be a legend around these parts. Stay grounded and humble, those attributes along with your legendary talent make you the man you are. Were greatful for your four years and you will never be forgotten!!

Ndamukong: A thousand thanks for all you did, on and off the field, at Nebraska. And thanks to your folks for having the good sense to trust you to the coaches and staff at NU! You truly represent what it means to be a Husker–on the field, in the classroom and in the community–and hopefully you will serve as a role model for future Huskers. Congrats on graduation! Always remember that whether you come from Portland or Omaha or wherever, once a Husker always a Husker!

Dear suh, I’m a 17 year old die hard fan. I can’t remember how many times you made me smile with pride this year! I have never been to a pro game but I promise that yours will be my first. We have been blessed to have such a wonderful athelete present us and you put us back on the map. Good luck in the NFL and go blackshirts and go RAMS

Suh,
Your the best player I’ve ever seen on the defensive side of the football in the history of College football. Thank you for all you did for Nebraska. We will all miss you and wish for the best in the NFL. I’m going to get your jersey wherever you go. SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!!!!!

suh,i’m one of your biggest fans. i read everything that’s been written about you. you seem to be a very humble person unlike many of your colleagues of your stature. you will be a great role model in the nfl ust like you have been in the ncca. i want to thank you for being a nebraska cornhusker and would hope you will help us recruit other players such as yourself. nebraska has had many great players over the years but you are one of a kind. good luck with your pro endeavours and there is no doubt in my mind you will be the #1 pick in the nfl draft. thanks for the memories.

I can’t tell you how much fun it has been to watch you demolish the offensive schemes of so many teams and coordinators over your years at Nebraska. As a member of Oregonians for Nebraska, it has been a distinct pleasure to get to know your mom and sister. Such special people! You have set the bar and are a role model for defensive linemen at Nebraska for many years to come. Blessings on your NFL career!
I personally can’t wait until the day you join all of the Oregonians for Nebraska crowd at the Refectory on game day to cheer on the Huskers. You did Nebraska proud, young man!

A true class act and a model Husker: humble and hardworking. Thank you for bringing the Huskers back to prominence, but more importantly, thank you for being such a solid individual. You’re legacy will live on forever.

Ndamukong Suh will be firmly implanted as one of the best Nebraska Cornhuskers ever. Not only because of his exceptional abilities on the field, but his demeanor off the field. Nebraskans love the game of football, but they love even more how the players represent our small state. Mr. Suh is the pride of Nebraska, and may he have all the successes on and off the field for years to come.

The football staff and future team leaders will hopefully draw from your example during your time at Nebraska, and continue to build the program. And we can thank you Mr. Suh and your family for the values that have been instilled in you which have played a BIG RED part in getting the program back on track. The best of luck in the NFL Mr. Suh!

As a Mizzou fanatic, I’m disinclined to root for most Nebraska players. Suh is one of those rare exceptions: I rooted for him during the Arizona game. Suh is simply an amazing player and person, and as a Rams fan, I do hope that our GM makes the right call and drafts this fine young man.

What an outstandng Nebraska Cornhusker. I spent my young life growing up in NE until I was 25. I have now lived in VA since 1992. I can not tell you how BIG a Husker fan I am and will always be. I feel so broken when you lose and so pumped when you win. What you have done for ALL Husker fans is likely undescribible. That performance in the Big 12 and Holiday Bowl brought tears to my eyes. You really hold the hopes of ALL Husker fans on every play.

Thanks for restoring Pride back into the Blackshirt defence. Hiesman or not you were the best player on the field this year. Good luck in your pro career. I hope to see you at some Nebraska red and white spring games. Go BIG RED and Suuuuhhhhhh!!!!

I agree with the previous posters about Ndamukong Suh. He has represented himself well both on and off the field. His parents have instilled in him with the values that all Nebraskans cherish.
There have been many great Husker D-linemen down through the years, but I feel that Rich Glover was just as disruptive to opposing offenses as Suh. Remember the 1971 Game Of The Century, NU vs OU? Glover was in their backfield all day long!

Ndamukong, you made all HUSKER fans proud and we feel fortunate that you came to our wonderful state to play for our beloved BIG RED. Your presence on and off the field helped to bring us back to a team that will be taken seriously by any college football team. I wish you the best of luck in the NFL and know that you will have an amazing career. Thank you for the memories! Suuuuuuuhhhhhh!

Mr. Suh is a class act. Never do I remember watching a game with the intention of focusing on the defensive side of the ball. I did that this year. Husker Nation will miss this gentle giant!
Donald James Parker

What a fine young man. It has been as much a pleasure to get know this young gentleman off the field as on it. He is truly awesome as a defensive tackle and is as great a young person in life. I am sure his parents are just so proud of him and they should be. I know we Nebraskans certainly are and he will always be a Nebraskan to us!